Recent research from the University of Chicago has transformed malva nuts, known for their use in herbal tea, into a hydrogel with various biomedical applications. This innovative malva nut hydrogel can expand significantly in water, making it useful for wound care and ECG readings. Rather than focusing on the nuts' traditional health benefits, the research emphasizes their remarkable swelling properties. The study highlights the creativity of Changxu Sun, whose exploration of an often-discarded tea residue opens doors to sustainable biomedical solutions.
"It is a remarkable discovery from a remarkable student. Changxu looked at herbal tea and saw a world of sustainable biomedical applications ready to be built."
"Originally, it's an oval shape one centimeter in width. Once you soak it in the water, it will expand about eight times in volume and 20 times by weight, turning into a gelatinous mass, like a jelly."
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